Brazil: 27 suspects detained for money laundering charges

midianews.com.br reported on September 20, 2013 that the Federal Police arrested 27 suspects in Mato Grosso and eight other states including the Federal District. Operation “Micah” is designed to combat criminal organizations specializing in money laundering and the misuse of public resources for social security purposes. Among those arrested include two agents of the Civil Police in the Federal District. Police confiscated 15 luxury cars, a motorcycle and boat valued in total at $5 million and report an R$50 million loss in pension funds. Police confirm 30 shell companies involved in the scheme. Read Article

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Minas Gerais, Brazil: Police Operation Detains 22 Suspects for Fraud

On September 9, 2013, Globo reported that “Operation Esopo” detained 22 people for the act of diverting public funds through bidding and the contracting of services. Police report services were overpriced and never delivered. The operation took place in 10 states as well as the Federal District. The Federal Police report that the suspects worked […]

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Brazil: 7 Suspects Detained for Diverting R$47.5 million in Public Funds

estadao.com.br reported on September 3, 2013 that the Federal Police launched “Operation Pronto Emprego” to combat the diversion of public funds (R$47.5 million) granted by the Ministry of Labor and Employment. The police arrested seven suspects including an aid to the secretary of the Ministry of Labor who was arrested in a hotel in Sao […]

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Amazonas, Brazil: Mayor Accused of Corruption and Sexual Exploitation Testifies to CPI

Globo reported on August 27, 2013 that the mayor of Coari, Adail Pinheiro, testified against sexual exploitation charges. According to the Parliamentary Inquiry Commission of Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents (CPI), Pinheiro was part of a network for sexually exploiting minors. Federal prosecutors report hearing contradictions in Pinheiro’s statements however wiretaps conducted by the […]

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Manaus, Brazil: Seven Suspects Detained, Including Former Police Officer

On August 16, 2013 Globo reported that seven people were arrested, once including a former police officer during Operation “Alliance”. The suspects are accused of involvement in drug trafficking activity in the city of Manaus, Amazonas. The investigation began about two months ago in response to complaints by members of the community. During the operation, […]

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Parana, Brazil: 23 Suspects Arrested for Corruption and Conspiracy

On August 15, 2013 Globo reported that 23 people; delegates, researchers, support agents, and traders, were sent to court by the Public Ministry for corruption and conspiracy. Investigators report the gang attempted to receive money from merchants in the junkyard sector, collecting up to R$30,000 a month with registration fees costing R$50,000. The arrest is […]

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Brazil: Engineer for Petrobras Reveals Corruption Scheme in Company

Globo reported on August 10, 2013 that Época magazine received information from João Henrique Augusto Rezende, a Petrobras engineer and former director of BR Distribuidora about a corruption scheme in Petrobras. According to Augusto, who oversaw all international agreements, 60% to 70% of earning from the Petrobras was used towards parliamentarians in the PMDB and […]

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Espirito Santo, Brazil: Lawyer Detained for Drug Trafficking Activity with Prison Inmates

Globo reported on August 6, 2013 that a female lawyer was detained on suspicion for selling drugs and weapons to prisoners at the Maximum Security Penitentiary II of Viana in Espirito Santo. In addition, the police detained two correctional officers, a former agent, and 10 other suspects involved in drug trafficking. The arrests of these […]

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Police Operation Searches Rochina Favela for Missing Man

Globo reported on August 7, 2013 that about 40 officers from the Homicide Division as well as firefighters searched the Rocinha favela in Rio de Janeiro in attempt to locate Amarildo de Souza who went missing on July 14. Police received a tip that the body was somewhere within the favela, far from the Pacifying […]

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Federal District, Brazil: Sergeant of Fire Department detained for drug trafficking

Globo reported on August 5, 2013 that Silvio José Ribeiro Dias, sergeant of the fire department in the Federal District, was detained after police found him with three kilos of pure cocaine known as “fish scale” hidden inside a vehicle. According to police, the sergeant received the drugs from Ponta Pora, Mato Grosso do Sul […]

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Manaus, Brazil: Military Police Officer Detained for Drug Trafficking

Terra reported on August 1, 2013 that corporal military police officer of Amazonas, Tony Cleoson Alencar Ladislaus, was detained after police seized marijuana, cocaine base paste, and weapons in his house in Manaus. The civil police report the officer has been under investigation for a year and that he used an ice cream shop as […]

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Amazonas, Brazil: Mayor Suspected of Sexual Exploitation Activity

jornaldamidia.com.br reported on July 21, 2013 that the mayor of Coari, Amazonas is being investigated by the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents for running a network with fellow public officials to sexually exploit teenage girls. The mayor is suspected of paying between R$2,000 and R$3,000 for virgin girls 12-14 years old. The mayor has […]

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Paraíba, Brazil: Suspects Detained Use Government Money for Fraud Internet Program

On July 20, 2013 Globo reported that the Federal Police arrested 23 suspects for misusing more than R$ 1 million of public money for an internet program (Jampa Digital Project) designed to bring free internet to the city of Joao Pessoa. Instead, the money was used to pay for campaign expenses. The suspects arrested include […]

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Police Arrest 33 Suspects for Drug Trafficking in Rocinha Favela

Globo reported on July 15, 2013 that after numerous hours of wiretapping and the use of camera surveillance, 33 people were arrested in the Rocinha favela in Rio de Janeiro, accused of involvement in drug trafficking operations. The revealed conversations do not conclude whether there was police involvement with traffickers although the investigation does not […]

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São Paulo, Brazil: Police Arrested for Assisting Drug Traffickers

Globo reported on July 16, 2013 that seven police officers who worked for the Department for Combating Drug Trafficking (DENARC) in São Paulo were arrested for drug trafficking conspiracy. According to police, thirteen officers in total are involved although only seven have been arrested. The officers received a R$300,000 bribe a year to inform the […]

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Amapa, Brazil: Military Police Officer Charged with Providing Information to Traffickers

Globo reported on July 7, 2013 that Military Police officer Marcelo Cavalcante of Amapa, Amazonas was charged for providing information to traffickers about civil and military investigations on drug trafficking in Macapa. Cavalcante was head of operations for the Special Operations Battalion (BOPE) prior to dismissal. Information provided to traffickers by Cavalcante allowed traffickers to […]

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Dictator’s Son of Equatorial Guinea Accused of Money Laundering in Brazil

primeiraedicao.com.br reported on July 7, 2013 that the son of the African dictator, Teodorin Nguema Obiang Mangue of Equatorial Guinea is accused of money laundering in Brazil. In a document of American Justice, it is suspected that Nguema spent more than US $65 million in goods and services in 2008. His expenses include that of […]

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Alagoas, Brazil: Gang Accused of Embezzlement and Other Corruptive Crimes

On July 5, 2013, an operation by Gecoc and the Federal Police arrested five people accused of fraud, forgery, conspiracy, and embezzling public funds in Alagoas. The group of suspects embezzled R$949,476.50 from the public treasury. Amongst three of the suspects who are still fugitives is the former mayor of União dos Palmares, Areski Freitas […]

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Rondônia, Brazil: Police Officer Suspected of Fraud in DMV System

Globo reported on June 1, 2013 that Civil Police investigations in Rondônia detained a police officer accused of fraud. The police officer is suspected of issuing false national licenses from the Department of Motor Vehicles. According to police, two gangs are suspected of fraud for selling false documents up to R$4,000 and lowering fines and […]

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Mato Grosso: Chief Police and Wife Detained for Corruption in Drug Trafficking Scheme

Globo reported on June 29, 2013 that the chief of the Homicide and Protection of Persons and his wife, a Civil Police researcher, were both arrested in Mato Grosso on accusations of protecting drug traffickers. According to police, the couple offered to drug traffickers that with their authoritative power, drug traffickers would not be investigated, […]

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Cuiabá, Brazil: Corrupted Police Officials Involved in Drug Trafficking Scheme

On June 27, 2013, a police commissioner and a civil police investigator were both arrested during ‘Operation Destruction’ in Cuiabá for drug trafficking association. The two men are accused of protecting drug traffickers and assisting in negotiations to release them in return for benefits from the drug leaders. The investigation began seven months ago in […]

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Military Officers Sentenced for Drug Trafficking Association

agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br reported on June 19, 2013 that the Justice of São Pedro da Aldeia sentenced 11 military officers and 13 other suspects accused of drug trafficking in the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro. The military officers were accused of accepting bribes to not arrest and convict traffickers in drug communities responsible for supplying the […]

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Brazil: Senate Approval for U.S. $18 Million Loan to Combat Corruption

On June 11, 2013, Globo reported that the Senate approved a U.S. $18 million loan s by Interamerican Development Bank to help fund programs to combat corruption in the public sector. The President submitted the application and the goal is to strengthen transparency within managers in the public realm. In addition, another loan was approved […]

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Brazil: 1.97 Million Children Work in Unsafe Environments

otempo.com.br reported on June 3, 2013, that according to the National Research by Household Sample, between 1.56 million and 1.97 million children and adolescents work in hazardous and unhealthy occupations/environments. Children and adolescents work in the production of tobacco, cotton, sugar cane, coal plants, drug trafficking, and sexual exploitation among other areas. The National Plan […]

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Minas Gerais, Brazil: Federal Police Operation Combats Corruption of Public Resources

ebc.com.br reported on May 27, 2013 that Operation-Vereda Hinterland conducted by one hundred federal police officials this morning, worked to remove a criminal organization in Minas Gerais, accused of misusing public resources. The Federal Police report such illegal activity included businessmen, civil servants, and politicians diverting resources from specific funds such as for road maintenance. […]

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Nine former police officers convicted of drug trafficking in Venezuela

Nine former police officers in Venezuela were among 12 individuals arrested in 2008 for drug trafficking in Apure. Because of evidence produced at their trial, they have been convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to 9-10 years in prison. According to El Nacional, they had used a clandestine airstrip to transport drugs. Some of the […]

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Drugs located in car of Honduran police agent

A Honduran police officer and two civilians were stopped and arrested as they were driving near the Guatemalan border with $10 thousand in a false compartment. The compartment was located between the back seats and the trunk. Drug-sniffing dogs detected traces of drugs inside the vehicle, leading to the search and seizure.The suspects were identified […]

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Peru: Prison agent snuck drugs into jail hidden in shoes

José Alberto Félix Herrera, who worked for the prison system in Peru, was caught attempting to bring drugs into the prison in Ancón. According to a La Republic report, he had hidden the drugs in his shoes. The type of drug was not reported. His own colleagues reportedly caught him with the drugs. He continues […]

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Seven U.S. citizens attended wedding party of arrested Colombian drug trafficker

Seven U.S. citizens, including three police officers, attended the party of Colombian drug trafficker Camilo Torres, alias “Fritanga.” Torres had been arrested on July, 2 2012 shortly after his wedding. He had organized the celebration party on a Caribbean island to follow the ceremony, during which he was arrested. The U.S. citizens present at the […]

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U.S. issues money-laundering sanctions in Venezuela and Colombia; links to Hezbollah

The U.S. Department of Treasury announced sanctions against five individuals for laundering money in Venezuela and Colombia on behalf of a Lebanese drug-trafficking organization. One of the suspects is believed to be raising money for Hezbollah, an Islamic terrorist group. Ali Mohamed Saleh, who has dual Colombian-Lebanese citizenship, is accused of coordinating Hezbollah’s activities in […]

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Police arrested in Huila, Colombia for involvement in drug trafficking

Four Huila police officers were arrested for the crimes of fabrication, trafficking, and possession of drugs, as well as conspiracy. The officers had been involved in the transportation of cocaine paste by car, according to El Tiempo. They will be brought to the criminal court in the Justice Palace for their first hearings on June […]

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Bolivia denies persecution of ex-general’s family, sentenced in U.S. for drug trafficking

The Bolivian government denies it is persecuting the family of  René Sanabria, ex-general of the police. Sanabria was sentenced to 14 years in prison in the United States for intending to traffick drugs into the country. Sanabria had denied links to drug activity within the government, Hoy Bolivia reports.The Bolivian government says it is not […]

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Airport in Cancun, Mexico a major hub along drug route to Europe

After the arrest of a Mexican at the Leonardo da Vinci airport in Rome, Italy on May 8, 2012, it appears the international Cancun airport is a major stopping point along a drug route from Latin America to Europe. The Mexican suspect had travelled from Cancun to Rome with 14 kilograms of high-purity cocaine in […]

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Narco-trafficking is increasing in Ecuador, U.S. Department of State says

The anti-narcotics department in Ecuador has released statistics that show an increase in drug trafficking in the country. U.S. officials from the Department of State agree, Noticias Montreal reports. They claim many exterior criminal organizations are operating in Ecuador, such as Los Zetas and the Sinaloa cartels from Mexico, Russian and Chinese groups, and Colombian […]

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Colombia’s Attorney issue 81 arrest warrants for politicians with links with paramilitaries

Colombian attorney aims to establish whether former officials and candidates in Antioquia, Córdoba and Chocó had link with the Elmer Cárdenas Bloc of the AUC, El Espectador reports. Read Article

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Mata-Zetas Release Video Accusing Officials as Supporters of Los Zetas, Mexico

•The group Los Mata-Zetas has released a video in which they accuse certain officials of being supporters of the Mexican Cartel, Los Zetas. •As reported by blogdelnarco.com, Los Mata-Zetas, a response to the Los Zetas cartel, accused Fidel Herrera Beltrán, former governor of Veracruz, Mexico and alias Z1, of allowing the cartel to establish itself […]

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Peru, Network of 22 Reinec employees involved in Chinese trafficking

The National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (Reinec) in Peru , are under investigation for alleged involvement in Chinese trafficking by illegally issuing identity cards reported El Comercio.pe. At least 15 illegal Chinese immigrants were issued authentic ID cards in the first half of the year, although they presented false birth certificates. Employees are […]

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Embezzlement Scandal in Brazilian Government

•Alfredo Nascimento, head of the Ministry of Transportation of Brazil, has resigned after having been accused of embezzlement. The ministry was in charge of infrastructure projects involving the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. •According to El Pais, the Brazilian media is accusing him of having embezzled 4% of funds from the multimillion infrastructure […]

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Argentina, Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo missing 47 million pesos promised to landslide victims

An idea constructed in February of 2009 by the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo was to build 350 houses and a hospital for landslide victims in Tartagal, Salta which would be funded and carried out by the “Shared Dreams” foundation, according to perfil.com. After the Mothers were charged with alleged corruption and money laundering […]

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Protestors Ask for A New Health System from the Colombian Government

Rcnradio.com reports that groups of high cost patients and other citizens gathered in Bolívar Square to protest the inaction of the government for years towards the practices of the EPS and asked the government to punish the EPS for their actions. Néstor Álvarez, the representative of high cost patients, stated that the protestors are asking […]

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